Apr. 18, 2013

Manti Te'o #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up prior to playing against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) / Getty Images

Top prospect: Oregon’s Dion Jordan didn’t put up the sack numbers of some of the other prospects in this draft but might have the most NFL potential. Overall draft: Not a great draft for elite prospects at outside or inside linebacker, but inside linebacker has more second-round-type players than usual. Packers outlook: They’re a good bet to draft an outside linebacker sometime over the weekend to improve their pass-rush potential on the outside even with last year’s first-round pick, Nick Perry, back from a wrist injury. Inside linebacker appears to be a lower priority. Rising star: BYU’s Ziggy Ansah entered last season as a nobody and now is a likely top-10 pick. Falling star: Florida State’s Bjoern Werner looked likely to go in the upper half of the first round as an outside rusher at the end of the college season, but concerns about his lack of explosiveness could push him to well into the second half of the round. Sleeper: Harding’s Ty Powell lacks ideal height (6-21/8) and has character red flags after attending two junior colleges and two suspensions at Harding, but he has intriguing pass-rush explosiveness as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

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For all the red flags that went up about Manti Te’o after he admitted being the victim of a long-distance girlfriend hoax, what matters most to NFL teams is how he performs on the football field.

And even though Te’o was a highly decorated player and Heisman Trophy finalist last season, there’s a split among scouts as to whether the linebacker is worth a first-round draft pick.

For all of the good football Te’o played last season for Notre Dame, his slow (4.82-second) 40 time at the scouting combine confirmed concerns many NFL scouts had after watching game film that Te’o would have trouble keeping up with tight ends and running backs in pass coverage.

Some scouts see Te’o’s instinctive and incredibly productive play at Notre Dame (437 career tackles) and don’t care about his timed speed or pass-coverage limitations. But many teams won’t draft a conventional linebacker (i.e., inside linebackers in a 3-4, or any linebacker in a 4-3) in the first round unless they’re convinced he’ll stay on the field on passing downs. So those teams rank Te’o as a second-round-type prospect at best, even after he ran a faster 40 (reportedly in the low 4.7s) at his campus Pro Day.

“He’s a smart player,” said a scout who considers Te’o a second-round prospect. “Studies, instinctive, and he can make plays. He’s better off going to a 3-4 team where you have two inside linebackers as opposed to being a true (middle linebacker). He’s not bad as far as reading and reacting, and he can go under some of the (short patterns over the middle), but I wasn’t comfortable watching him in pass coverage. He’ll get exposed there.”

Early in the offseason, media draft pundits seemed to like Te’o as a possible pick for the Green Bay Packers at No. 26 overall. After San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick eviscerated the Packers with his running and passing in the divisional round of the playoffs last season, it made sense that they’d be looking for defensive help in the middle of the field.

But in the offseason, the Packers worked out a pay cut for linebacker A.J. Hawk that in effect assures his return because of a $2.21 million roster bonus they paid him last month, plus they return injured starter Desmond Bishop (torn hamstring) and re-signed free agent Brad Jones for an average of $3.75 million a year.

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The Packers would have to think especially highly of Te’o to consider him enough of an upgrade over those players. But Te’o’s limitations in pass coverage and explosiveness suggest he might not be the answer to improving the Packers’ defense against a quarterback who can scramble like Kaepernick and the other top running quarterbacks in the league.

Still, it appears several teams think highly enough of Te’o that he probably will get drafted in the first round, and there’s a decent chance he’s taken before the Packers select. Minnesota has two later first-round picks (Nos. 23 and 25), a big need at middle linebacker and two of Te’o’s recent former Notre Dame teammates (tight end Kyle Rudolph and safety Harrison Smith) on its roster.

The Notre Dame teammates factor in because they could help ease Te’o’s transition to the NFL.

Any team that drafts Te’o will have to accept the accompanying Tim Tebow-like media storm that followed Te’o all offseason after news broke that his girlfriend and her death last season were a hoax. He and the media played up his personal loss to the hilt during Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game, and after the news broke it seemed incredible that he was naïve enough to be victim of a “catfish” scheme, and that he stuck with the story even after he found out his “girlfriend” wasn’t real.

Along with the excessive media coverage he’ll draw, Te’o also will be walking into a new work environment, an NFL locker room, that can be harsh on young players. At least at first, he can expect more than the usual pranks and ridicule from some of his new teammates.

Teams also have to look hard into Te’o’s background and have grilled him hard in interviews to find out how he could have fallen for the hoax, and determine whether it raises concerns about potential future off-field issues.

“If I was a player,” another scout said, “I’d ride him pretty good and how that thing snowballed and how he handled it, pretty odd situation. In the front office, you feel like he’s a pretty good player and he did come clean. I’d want some good conversations with him. If all that was answered, I’d have only limited concerns with him as a football player. I think he’s a good football player. You have to know his limitations and go from there.”

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Top inside linebacker prospects

1. Alec Ogletree, Georgia, 6-21/2, 242, Round 1

True junior entry has the speed and athleticism to be an every-down inside linebacker but warrants character/drug concerns because of a four-game marijuana suspension in college and DUI arrest shortly before the scouting combine. One source said Ogletree tested positive for marijuana three times in college. “There’s a number of teams that will take him,” a scout said. “They’ll have to say, ‘We have a strong locker room, we’re going to be better for him than he is for us.’ He has the ability to make plays, they just have to make sure they help him grow up and become a professional.” Played some safety as a freshman, as a sophomore in ’11 was suspended for the opener for stealing the motorcycle helmet from another Georgia athlete. In the last two seasons combined had 19 tackles for a loss and six sacks, good numbers for an inside linebacker. Last season had 11 tackles, five pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble in the eight games after his drug suspension. “A talented guy,” a second scout said. “A little undersized, should get a little stronger, has some growth potential to get over 240 (pounds).” At the combine tested fine but not great – 4.7 seconds in the 40, 331/2-inch vertical and 20 bench reps. “Instinctive, good downhill player,” a third scout said. “Good range.”

2. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame, 6-13/4, 240, Rounds 1-2

Four-year starter had a blowout senior season, then saw his personal life unravel when the tragic story of his girlfriend and her supposed death turned out to be a hoax in which he was the victim. “He’s one of the most prepared inside linebackers coming out of college when it comes to smarts and football intelligence that we’ve seen in awhile,” a scout said. “He can get into a film room, (you) coach him up and he can make calls on the field right away. Extremely smart. Physically is the problem with him. He doesn’t shoot downhill to the line of scrimmage and take on big bodies and stack the offensive line. He reads and reacts, he keys and diagnoses, which gives the line time to work their angles on him, and I don’t know if he has the speed to overcome that.” Had 437 total tackles (225 solo) in his career, 81/2 sacks and 10 turnover plays (seven interceptions, three forced fumbles). All seven interceptions were last season. Ran a slow 40 (4.82 seconds) at the scouting combine, improved that to a reported 4.71 seconds at his campus workout. Didn’t do the bench test in the offseason because of a shoulder stinger. Some teams like him as a first-round pick because of his playmaking in the run game and nose for the ball in coverage. Others don’t think he’s fast enough to be a three-down player. “I don’t think Te’o is tough,” a second scout said. “I wouldn’t be scared to box Teo. If you’re not going to be a tough guy than you better be a lateral move guy, and 4.8-whatever you’re not going to be a lateral move guy.”

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3. Arthur Brown, Kansas State, 6-13/8, 241, Rounds 2-3

Transferred after playing two seasons (’08 and ’09) at Miami (Fla.). In two seasons as a starter for Kansas State had 201 tackles, 161/2 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions. Excited scouts when on his campus Pro Day he ran the 40 in 4.67 seconds, which along with his game tape suggests he might stay on the field for coverage on passing downs. “You talk about instinctive, that guy is instinctive,” one scout said. “As soon as the ball was snapped he knew where he was going, and he was going that way. (The 161/2 tackles for loss the last two years), that’s not bad, that means you’re playing downhill and meeting guys at the line of scrimmage consistently.” Has a brother, Bryce, who’s a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles.

4. Sio Moore, Connecticut, 6-03/8, 245, Rounds 2-3

Born in Liberia, split time in high school between Connecticut and North Carolina. Productive three-year starter who lacks height but tested well at the combine. Was a backup in his redshirt freshman season, then started his final three years and had 268 tackles, 43 tackles for a loss and a surprising 16 sacks (eight in ’12). Ran the 40 in a good 4.65 seconds, had a 38-inch vertical jump and did 29 bench reps. Though he’s not tall, has long arms (333/4 inches) that will make him harder to throw over on zone drops, which along with his speed and blitzing ability makes him a likely three-down player. “He’s going to show up high on people’s boards,” a scout said. “Probably second round. He’s got pop, good natural size, a redshirt senior so he’s played a lot. He’s going to climb.”

5. Kevin Minter, LSU, 5-113/8, 246, Rounds 2-3

Redshirt junior entry was a two-year starter at middle linebacker. Short but instinctive and aggressive. Great production but might have limited upside. In ’11 and ’12 combined had 191 tackles, 181/2 tackles for loss, five interceptions and two forced fumbles. Didn’t run well (4.81 seconds), had a 33-inch vertical and did 25 bench reps. Played the nickel in college and probably can in the NFL, but might not be fast enough for the dime. “I ranked him as my top inside linebacker,” a scout said. “As far as ready to play right now, Minter. Ogletree eventually should be the better player.”

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Top outside linebacker prospects

1. Dion Jordan, Oregon, 6-61/4, 248, Round 1

Went to Oregon as a tight end but moved to defense in his redshirt sophomore season, 2010. “My top guy at outside linebacker,” one scout said. “Great length, good burst to get out of his stance. He has chase, he can stand up and run and chase people. Has nice bend to get around the offensive lineman for a guy that’s tall and linear like that. A lot of what you want at outside linebacker.” Didn’t put up huge numbers — in two seasons as a starter had 121/2 sacks and 231/2 tackles for loss — but is a major talent. Ran the 40 in 4.60 seconds, which is faster than some running backs, had a good 10-2 broad jump, only an OK 321/2-inch vertical and didn’t bench because of a torn labrum in his shoulder that he had surgically repaired shortly after the combine in late February. In an attempt to be unpredictable, Oregon used him all over the field, even lining him up in coverage over slot receivers in at least one game. Main weakness is holding the edge against the run, but his potential as a pass rusher as a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 end appears enormous. “If (Oregon’s coaches) had just let him get down and rush every play, he’d have led the nation in sacks,” one scout said. “He only had seven or eight (sacks as a junior), but in a weaker conference like the Pac-(12) I could have seen him leading Division I in sacks. I thought he’d be just a skinny guy, but looking at him at the combine he’s really a lot thicker than you think. Long, can run. Not a coward.”

2. Ziggy Ansah, BYU, 6-51/4, 271, Round 1

A natural talent with the size, abilities and inexperienced football background similar to the New York Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul, who was the No. 15 pick in the 2010 draft. So big and fast that 3-4 teams are debating whether he’s an end or outside linebacker in that scheme. “I see everything in him,” one scout said. “I see the same stuff I saw — he’s faster than Pierre-Paul was. I think he’s a complete guy. He can do everything we want to do. He’s the most complete (defensive line-type) player we’ve seen, no question. I think he can (be as good as Pierre-Paul).” Grew up in Ghana, went to BYU on an academic scholarship, participated in track in ’09 and then tried football in ’10. Played primarily on special teams in ’10 and ’11, then blossomed last year as an outside linebacker with 41/2 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss. Was voted the Senior Bowl’s Most Outstanding Player with 11/2 sacks, 31/2 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Ran the 40 in 4.63 seconds (Pierre-Paul was 4.71), had a 341/2-inch vertical (Pierre-Paul’s was 301/2 inches) and did 21 bench reps (to Pierre-Paul’s 19). According to USA Today, Ansah’s passport says he turns 24 in May. “We’re treating him as an outside linebacker,” said a scout from a 3-4 team. “I’ll tell you what, he’s the most talented (defensive) guy I’ve seen. When I watched tape I said, ‘I can’t believe this.’ This guy’s explosive, he can turn and bend. The problem is he hasn’t played much football. Don’t know how old he is, but I’ll tell you what he’s the most talented I’ve seen.”

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3. Jarvis Jones, Georgia, 6-23/8, 245, Round 1

Junior entry led the FBS in sacks (141/2) and tackles for a loss (241/2) last year but had an alarmingly slow 40 time (4.92 seconds) for a 3-4 outside linebacker prospect. “He’s the best defensive player in the draft,” one scout said, “and if you were starting a college team you’d want him on your team. But he’s short, he’s just not very explosive and he’s not very fast.” Played as a freshman for USC but sustained a sprained neck in 2009 and transferred after team doctors failed him on his physical because of narrowing of the spine. Was cleared by Georgia’s doctors and played in ’11 and ’12 without incident. Passed the physical of the several teams interviewed here. “I don’t think that’s a concern,” another scout said. “He plays reckless, sticks his head in there. That might slow down some (teams) but I don’t think that many. I could see him slipping down toward the mid or later part of the first round and going someplace like Pittsburgh (at No. 17 overall).” In the last two seasons, combined for 44 tackles for a loss and 28 sacks. Didn’t work out at the combine and then raised red flags at his Pro Day when he tested poorly for his size and position — 4.92 seconds in the 40, only a 301/2-inch vertical jump. The poor 40 time raises questions about whether he can run with tight ends and running backs in pass coverage as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but his college production is hard to ignore. “Talk about first step – I don’t care what he did in the 40,” another scout said. “His first step getting off the ball, his instincts, balance and control – I didn’t see the guy on the ground hardly ever. This is a first-round player who plays with pride. When everybody said he ran so slow, he said, ‘Turn on the film and watch me play football.’” Said a scout from a 3-4 team: “I worry about his athletic skill, but I loved his instincts and the way he plays. When you’re sitting there with an early pick, (you have to ask) how good is he going to be, if he’s not great athletically, in three years for the value of your team for what you put into him? You can hide him (in coverage), do it just enough (for the offense) to not know. If I had that guy I wouldn’t let him cover too damn much, I’d have him rush.”

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4. Barkevious Mingo, LSU, 6-41/4, 241, Round 1

Junior redshirt entry is a likely top-20 pick based more on potential than production at an elite program. “He’s a really good athlete, and I know people are enamored with him,” one scout said. “But he doesn’t make a lot of plays and doesn’t seem to have instincts. I think he’s a smart guy, but football-wise I don’t think he is, doesn’t have a very good football IQ. He’ll go in the first round but I don’t like himHe looks like he’s lost half the time. He never gets down, he’s looking around for somebody to tell him what to do, he’s very rarely set and ready, just does crazy things.” Had a better year as a sophomore (eight sacks, 15 tackles for loss) than junior (41/2 and 81/2). Has the long, linear build (333/4-inch arms) of a 3-4 outside linebacker and excellent athleticism — 4.58 seconds in the 40, 37-inch vertical jump and 10-8 broad jump. But never did the bench press for scouts in the offseason. “He’s as athletic as they get,” another scout said. “He’s still got to get a little stronger.” Said a third scout: “Good length, wiry, will have to get bigger and stronger. I’d like to see a more consistent motor, but he has potential as a pass rusher.”

5. Bjoern Werner, Florida State, 6-31/4, 266, Round 1

German born, started playing football as a high school exchange student in Connecticut. Best suited as a 4-3 end but in a 3-4 defense would play outside linebacker. “I’d be surprised if he ever becomes a dominating defensive end,” a scout said. “You don’t see that burst off the corner. You see some things where he understands leverage, he understands pass rush, he knows how to use his hands, all those things. He’s very coachable, knows formations, he’s very bright. But you get up against these (NFL) tackles, they’re going to latch onto you and you have to get off of them. I don’t know that he can beat the elite tackles.” Entering the draft as a true junior, had 231/2 career sacks, including 13 last season. Also knocked down 13 passes in ’12. “Hot and cold player, but I like him,” another scout said. “I like his personality, his football personality. I don’t know if he’ll be a special pass rusher, but he’s got a motor.” For a top prospect didn’t test well at the combine – 4.83 seconds in the 40, 31-inch vertical jump. “He can’t run that fast but he’s got really good (sack) numbers,” one scout said. “He’s far from elite or dynamic. He’s falling. If you watch him play, his effort – in the fourth quarter he makes no plays, he’s gone, and (that shouldn’t be because) they rotate him some. I like him as a person, and in the right spot I guess so, but certainly not in the first round.”

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6. Damontre Moore, Texas A&M, 6-41/2, 250, Round 1

Replaced Von Miller at the “Joker” pass-rush position as a true sophomore in ’11, and in the past two seasons combined had 21 sacks and 38 tackles for a loss. “I think he’s a good player,” a scout said. “He’s the same as Jarvis Jones, can’t run, didn’t time well. He’s a good productive player. I watched him and thought he was good. He’s night and day, he’s either going to play hard or wallow around like a dog. He can make plays but he’s slow.” His 4.95-second 40 was even slower than Jarvis Jones’, so his coverage abilities probably will be limited. Had a decent vertical jump (351/2 inches) but did an embarrassing 12 reps on the bench. Improved his bench to 19 at the school’s Pro Day two weeks after the combine. “Why didn’t he do (19 reps) before?” a second scout said. “What you’re saying is his whole college career he was just trying to get by and didn’t like the weight room.” Has long arms (343/4 inches) and at only 20 years old is several years from his physical prime. “Started off (the season) really, really high, but if you watched him on game tape against quality opponents, he didn’t play as well,” another scout said. “When he’s able to move and adjust and go, he’s fine. But when he has to go around somebody, that’s a problem for him. On a lot of plays where he’s not getting blocked, that’s when he makes plays. When he’s getting blocked he has trouble getting off the block. The 40 time didn’t bother me as much, what bothered me was not getting off blocks enough.” Said a third scout: “I like him. I know he’s getting beat up (lately), but I think he has a great get off, he works with his hands and feet together, he’s got a good inside stab move and power.”

7. James Collins, Southern Mississippi, 6-31/2, 250, Rounds 2-3

Started his college career as a defensive back and moved to outside linebacker his sophomore season. Last year for a winless team had 10 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss, broke up five passes and forced four fumbles. Very athletic and got the attention of NFL scouts with a great performance at the scouting combine that included a good 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds) and the scouting combine’s best broad jump (11-7) and second-best vertical jump (411/2 inches). “There was a big buzz going with him,” one scout said. “But he didn’t play hard and didn’t make many plays. His stats are good but the games I watched he didn’t play very well.” Scouts wonder why his production wasn’t even better considering those test results, and some teams question his commitment to the game. “Has some tools,” another scout said. “Doesn’t play very hard.”

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8. Brandon Jenkins, Florida State, 6-21/2, 251, Rounds 2-3

Was team MVP as a sophomore and junior, then last year sustained a Lisfranc injury in his left foot in opener that ended his season and likely diminished his workouts for scouts this offseason. Has less-than-ideal height for an outside linebacker but has natural pass-rush talent on the outside. In ’10 and ’11 combined had had 211/2 sacks and 331/2 tackles for loss. At his Pro Day on March 30 ran the 40 in a reported 5.07 seconds, which probably is too slow to handle the coverage responsibilities of a 3-4 outside linebacker. But a couple of scouts said Jenkins is significantly faster when at full strength. “(In ’10 and ’11 teams) couldn’t block him,” one scout said. “I’ll say this, he may have run 5.0, but he plays faster. There’s a lot of guys in the NFL that don’t run but know what they’re doing.” A one-dimensional player who doesn’t hold the edge well against the run. “He’s too little to play inside, they’ll kill him,” another scout said. “He has to be an outside backer in a 3-4. Jenkins didn’t like the running game. He liked to rush the passer. You have a 270-pound tight end, now you have the matchup you want.”

9. Sam Montgomery, LSU, 6-31/4, 262, Rounds 2-3

Redshirt junior looks like a better fit as a 4-3 end than 3-4 outside linebacker. Had knee reconstruction surgery in 2010, but in the two seasons thereafter produced well as a pass rusher and disruptor for one of the best defenses in the country (17 sacks and 261/2 tackles for loss). Plays hard and tested OK — 4.81 seconds in the 40, a 341/2-inch vertical jump, and at his Pro Day did 22 bench reps. Didn’t have major off-field incidents, but some teams worry about his unusually erratic personality, which came through in interviews at the scouting combine. “His interview at the combine was awful,” one scout said. “Whoever takes him did not interview him.”

10. Alex Okafor, Texas, 6-41/2, 264, Rounds 2-3

Played some defensive tackle early in his career, then moved to end his last two seasons and had 191/2 sacks and 32 tackles for a loss in his junior and senior seasons. Might be a better fit as a 4-3 end because he lacks speed for pass coverage (ran the 40 in a reported 4.88 seconds). But he plays with instincts and power despite average weight-room strength (21 bench reps), and has long arms (333/4 inches) to go with good height for the outside linebacker position. Had 41/2 sacks against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl to finish his college career. “He’s big and he has some feel and had that big bowl game,” a scout said. “But he’s not dynamic, elite, sudden, quick, explosive, any of those words. I think he’s a good football player but there’s nothing dynamic about him.”